Reed youngster Thomas Fulk continued his outstanding batting form on Sunday, with another fifty following on from his century the previous week. The Sunday side travelled down to the capital to face strong opponents North Enfield. Skipper Archer won the toss and chose to bowl first on a pitch which looked like it would suit his legion of seam bowlers. Allsopp and Archer bowled well getting plenty of movement and variable bounce off a pitch which offered a great deal of assistance to the opening quicks. The Enfield batsmen rode their luck with several close LBW appeals and more than the occasional edge which either failed to carry or sailed past the awaiting cordon of slips and close catchers. After 17 overs Watts (39) and Clark (18) had reached a less than fluent 50 stand, but the after the introduction of Collins and inparticular Haslam (4-22) the tide started slowly to turn in Reeds' favour. Collins the wily old veteran tied up one end restricting the scoring opportunities, whilst Haslam's inswing coupled with prodigious bounce soon had the N.E batsmen making the solitary journey from pavillion to crease and vice versa. The first change bowler's spells over, Allsopp (2-27) reurned to devastating effect coupled with fiery young Marcus Martin (4-11) they restricted the middle and lower order to very few scoring possibilities while taking wickets at regular intervals. After 41 overs of toil for the home side their innings closed on 114 all out. Watts, Clark and exras the only participants who reached double figures. A miserly target on an increasingly more difficult surface, Archer entrusted the first phase of the run chase to Bowcock (24) and Fulk (50*). Enfields bowlers proceded to charge in, [...]

In a high scoring match on Sunday Reed Seconds beat Newport by 6 wickets with 5 overs to spare.On a good batting track and with the outfield lightening fast but in places not easy to field on the young Reed team had their work cut out as Newport reached 230 for 8 in their 40 overs,Moult top scoring with 53. Wickets were shared with Marcus Baker 3-18 , Matt Bowles 2-43, William Heald 1-16, Karl Ward bowled tidily 0-21 from seven overs but pick of the bowlers was fast medium Rupert Martin with 2-24 from his eight overs. Reed needed a good start and lost Alan Ward for 13 with just 31 on the board. But they were soon up with asking rate as 17 year old Marcus Martin and 16 year old William Heald put on 97 for the second wicket before Martin was caught for 48. However Heald went on an all out attack aggressivley pulling and driving the Newport bowlers.He didnt look like getting out as he reached his maiden century for Reed ,finishing on 126 not out including 24 boundaries. At 199-4 he had been joined by Marcus Baker and although the light was fading neither batsmen had problems seeing the ball as they finished with a flourish of fours taking 16 off the 35 over to win the game.

In their final transtion league match of the season Reed beat Babraham by 53 runs. Batting first Reed scored 200-6 in their 40 overs. Opening the batting Alan Ward and Marcus Martin gave Reed a good start putting on 94 for the first wicket before Ward was out for 48.Marcus Martin carried his bat scoring 98 not out. Needing just ten from the final over for his maiden 100 he hit two fours ,leaving him just two short. Good knocks also from William Heald 19 and Rupert Martin 15,who put on 49 for the last wicket with his brother Marcus. For Babraham McNaulty took 3-25. Reed fielded tightly,good catches taken by William Heald , Marcus Baker and David Johnson. Babraham tried to keep up with the run rate but Reed fielded well and wickets continued to fall. Wickets were shared Rupert Martin 2-15, William Heald 1-17 , Kirean Ward 1-22, Marcus Baker 3-29, Marcus Martin 1-19 and Matt Bowles was unlucky not to get a wicket with his offspin 0-18. Babraham were all out in the 32nd over, falling 53 short.

On Sunday a Reed Second team including eight colts beat Harrow St.Mary by 4 wickets. Batting first Harrow reached 204 all out in their 40 overs.Reed fielded well and there were three run outs.The rest of the wickets were shared Marcus Martin 2-24,Marcus Baker2-33,William Heald 1-19,Matt Bowles 1-19,Peter Baker 1-7. Reed colts batted steadily opener Marcus Martin 36 supported by Conrad Wellstead 10,Matt Bowles 25 and Karl Ward 20.But a sixth wicket partnership of 60 between Marcus Baker 50 not out (including three 6s)and Alan Ward 22 not out saw Reed home to victory in the 34th over.

National Village Cup round 2 - 11/05/03 Records were flying all over the place at Reed on Sunday, when they entertained Hare St & Hormead in the National Village Championship. After losing the toss and being put into bat, Chris Jackson and Tom Fulk started to rewrite the record books. Despite good opening spells from Hammond and Nathan, the pair saw off the new ball and then accellerated, unleashing a barrage of unstoppable shots and delivering some punishing blows to the Hare Street attack. The pair raced from 100 off 17 overs to 351 off 40overs, with the final 50 runs coming off off just 25 balls. Jackson was finally out for a career best of 186 with just 3 balls remaining hitting 17x 4s and 6x 6s, whilst Tom Fulk carried his bat for 153 scoring 18x 4s and 1x 6. Reed finished on 351 for 1 in only 40 overs! Their partnership of 344 set a club record and was also the 2nd highest partnership ever in the competition's long history. In reply Hare St got off to a poor start when their Captain Fitzgerald was caught by a diving catch by Reed wicketkeeper Simon Jackson. However some solid batting including a 95 partnership from Clive Newland and Hammond saw Hare St to a very credible 190 for 4. Reed are at home to their conquerers of 2 years ago, Biddenham in the next round on 25th May. Reed captain Simon Jackson said "after our great win against Cottered on Saturday I didnt think we would have a better achievement on the Sunday in the National Villagehampionship. Chris and Tom looked a different class and it was a pleasure watching the momentus innings. [...]

Fresh from Saracens Herts League Division 4 victory and promotion, Reed picked up where they left off by crushing Chipperfield in the first round of their National Village Cup campaign on Sunday. Despite losing the toss, Reed restricted the opposition to 155 in their 40 overs after Chipperfield's flamboyant opening which rewarded them with 36 runs for no loss in only 7 overs. It took Reed veteran, Peter Tidey (2-30), using his vast experience, to bowl dangerman Khan (27). Clarke (2-41) quickly followed his lead, dislodging the other opener Carson with a sharp caught and bowled. This however allowed McNicol to the crease as he confidently dominated the faster bowling with a powerful 40, until Berks (2-40) removed him and his partner in quick succession. This break, combined with the intelligent spin bowling of C. Jackson (1-23) and tight fielding in the covers, increased pressure on Chipperfield to maintain a healthy scoring rate. There were some notable catches, particularly by skipper S. Jackson and G.Wornham which helped maintain pressure. Their middle order struggled to break the succession of maidens, and once they fell to some misjudged strokes, the lower order were forced to take some riskier shots, from which both R.Robertson (2-9) and Clarke benefited. Chipperfield's responded with some very tight and intelligent seam bowling, reducing Reed to 5-1 in 5 overs, and 34-1 in 15 overs. Yet, once Wale (1-47) and Mir (0-17) were replaced, J.Heslam (26) and C.Jackson (21) cut loosed and imposed their authority with some blistering cut strokes. Yet Carson and McNicol created problems again by ending their innings, tipping the run-chase into the balance, particularly as Wornham (46) struggled early on to dominate the bowling. Yet, in partnership with Curtis [...]

Fresh from Saracens Herts League Division 4 victory and promotion, Reed picked up where they left off by crushing Chipperfield in the first round of their National Village Cup campaign on Sunday. Despite losing the toss, Reed restricted the opposition to 155 in their 40 overs after Chipperfield's flamboyant opening which rewarded them with 36 runs for no loss in only 7 overs. It took Reed veteran, Peter Tidey (2-30), using his vast experience, to bowl dangerman Khan (27). Clarke (2-41) quickly followed his lead, dislodging the other opener Carson with a sharp caught and bowled. This however allowed McNicol to the crease as he confidently dominated the faster bowling with a powerful 40, until Berks (2-40) removed him and his partner in quick succession. This break, combined with the intelligent spin bowling of C. Jackson (1-23) and tight fielding in the covers, increased pressure on Chipperfield to maintain a healthy scoring rate. There were some notable catches, particularly by skipper S. Jackson and G.Wornham which helped maintain pressure. Their middle order struggled to break the succession of maidens, and once they fell to some misjudged strokes, the lower order were forced to take some riskier shots, from which both R.Robertson (2-9) and Clarke benefited. Chipperfield's responded with some very tight and intelligent seam bowling, reducing Reed to 5-1 in 5 overs, and 34-1 in 15 overs. Yet, once Wale (1-47) and Mir (0-17) were replaced, J.Heslam (26) and C.Jackson (21) cut loosed and imposed their authority with some blistering cut strokes. Yet Carson and McNicol created problems again by ending their innings, tipping the run-chase into the balance, particularly as Wornham (46) struggled early on to dominate the bowling. Yet, in partnership with Curtis [...]

On Sunday Reed were beaten by Cheshunt in the Becker Cup by the batting performance of the classy Sam Stevenson. Reed started well with early break throughs from Pete Tidey and Michael Berks. Tidey bowled tightly, finishing his 10 overs with 1 for 18. However even with wickets falling at regular intervals Stevenson raced to a chanceless 50 and then quickly after to his ton and his 400th competitive game run of the season without being dismissed! James Heslam (3 for 53) became the first bowler to dismiss Stevenson this season, for 108 as Cheshunt finished on 219 from their 50 overs. In reply Cheshunt bowled tightly knowing the conditions as Reed lost early wickets. With Gary Bridge batting solidly and showing the class that he bought to Reed, Reed always had a chance. However once Bridge had gone for 43, Reed never looked like winning despite and interesting last wicket partnership from Pete Tidey and Jamie Kingshott.

National Village Cup round 3 - 25/05/03 Reed carried over their form from their League victory by advancing a stage closer in the National Village Cup, thanks mainly to a blistering 131 by Baz Curtis off only 124 balls. Despite being delayed by a rain shower, Biddenham's bowlers continued to be terrorised by Curtis as he thumped 4 sixes and 15 fours leaving the hosts on 238 for 4 off their 40 overs. Solid support was found in James Heslam (20), Chris Jackson (30) and a crucial last-minute 30* in 24 balls by captain Simon Jackson. D.Morrish (7-0-35-2) and S.Edmonds (7-1-34-2) were the wicket takers. After tea, Biddenham began positively as R.Fone (32) and D.Morish (46) tested the Reed openers, but it took some nagging pace bowling by William Clarke (9-1-22-2) to force the breakthrough as Ben Bowles clung to a crucial chance at mid-on. The number three quickly followed to a rising delivery by Clarke, also marking one of wicket-keeper Simon Jackson's three catches during the innings. Once Peter Tidey (8-0-31-3) had D.Morrish bowled in his third over, the batting order crumbled, allowing him to pick up a further 2 wickets. 2nd XI opener Jim Allsopp (7-1-29-3) also contributed healthily with three wickets and some testing seam movement, showing positive signs for the club's future seam attack. Biddenham's effort ended in the 34th over as opener Berks (6.4-0-25-1) promptly took the final wicket leaving them languishing on 147 all out. Reed are due to play the next round against St. Margaretsbury on 8th June. The match ball was kindly sponsored by Hardcastle-Burton Chartered Accountants of Royston.